MAA EXTERNSHIP
Medical Administrative Assistant Externship in {{state_name}}
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on front-office healthcare experience across The Keystone State. Build administrative skills, professional connections, and a pathway to employment.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
14,500+
PA Medical Offices
$0
Externship Cost
6,300+
Annual Openings
Why Get an MAA Externship?
A Medical Administrative Assistant externship gives you real-world front-office healthcare experience that employers value. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn a median salary of $40,000+ with strong job growth. Hands-on experience sets you apart from other candidates.
An externship helps you:
- ✓ Practice scheduling, patient check-in, and EHR systems in a real medical environment
- ✓ Build professional references from healthcare supervisors
- ✓ Discover which medical office setting fits you best (primary care, specialty, hospital)
- ✓ Convert your externship into a job offer — many sites hire their externs
New to healthcare? EHired offers free training to prepare you for AMCA MAAC certification. An externship is optional but highly recommended for building confidence and connections.
⚠️ Important: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact facilities directly to arrange your own placement. This self-managed approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
How to Find an Externship in {{state_name}}
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a front-office healthcare externship.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for healthcare facilities with front-office administrative staff:
- ✓ Physician practices — Primary care, family medicine, internal medicine
- ✓ Specialty clinics — All specialties-two major healthcare capitals, academic medicine, community health
- ✓ Hospital admissions/registration — Front desk, patient access
- ✓ Urgent care centers — FastMed, Concentra, CityMD
- ✓ Medical billing companies — Revenue cycle management
- ✓ Health insurance offices — Claims processing, member services
Prepare Your Approach
Get ready before contacting sites:
- ✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any office/admin experience
- ✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing MAA training and seeking hands-on front-office experience"
- ✓ Highlight your skills — Computer proficiency, customer service, attention to detail
- ✓ Be flexible — Offer to work their schedule, start immediately
- ✓ Dress professionally — Business casual for in-person visits
Make Contact
Reach out to facilities directly:
- ✓ Call first — Ask for the office manager or practice administrator
- ✓ Visit in person — Drop off resume, ask to speak with manager
- ✓ Email if provided — Brief, professional, attach resume
- ✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, flexible hours, eager to learn
- ✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely
Complete Your Externship
Make the most of your experience:
- ✓ Track your hours — Log date, hours, and tasks performed
- ✓ Learn actively — Ask questions, volunteer for tasks
- ✓ Be reliable — Show up on time, every time
- ✓ Build relationships — Get to know staff, show appreciation
- ✓ Ask about openings — Express interest in future employment
Sample Script: Calling a Medical Office
"Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I'm completing a Medical Administrative Assistant training program and I'm looking to gain hands-on front-office experience through an externship. I'm wondering if your practice might have room for an extern? I'm flexible with scheduling, I'm proficient with computers and EHR systems, and I'd be happy to help with patient check-in, scheduling, phones, and whatever the front desk needs. Would it be possible to speak with the office manager about this opportunity?"
Key points to emphasize: You're trained, you're free help, you're flexible, and you can handle phones and computers. Many medical offices are understaffed at the front desk and welcome extra help.
Where to Find Externships in {{state_name}}
{{state_name}} has thousands of medical offices, clinics, and healthcare facilities with front-office positions. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Philadelphia Metro (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks Counties)
Major healthcare hub with Penn Medicine, Jefferson, Temple, and Main Line Health.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Penn Medicine physicians, Jefferson Health physicians, Temple Health physicians, Main Line Health physicians, Einstein Healthcare Network
Specialty Clinics:
Penn Cardiology, Rothman Orthopedics, Penn Dermatology, Abramson Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson, Temple University Hospital, Lankenau, Pennsylvania Hospital
💡 Philadelphia is major healthcare capital. Penn Medicine is world-class. Jefferson and Temple are excellent academic centers. Very competitive.
Pittsburgh Metro (Allegheny, Westmoreland Counties)
UPMC dominates western Pennsylvania with academic excellence.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
UPMC physicians, Allegheny Health Network physicians, Excela Health physicians, Heritage Valley physicians
Specialty Clinics:
UPMC Heart, UPMC Orthopedics, UPMC Dermatology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Hospital Systems:
UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside, Allegheny General, UPMC Magee, UPMC Children's
💡 Pittsburgh has UPMC-one of nation's largest health systems. Allegheny Health Network is competitor. Less competitive than Philly with excellent medicine.
Central Pennsylvania (Dauphin, Centre, Lancaster Counties)
Penn State Health, UPMC, and WellSpan serve central PA.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Penn State Health physicians, UPMC Central PA physicians, WellSpan Health physicians, Geisinger Holy Spirit physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Penn State Heart, Lancaster Orthopedics, Penn State Dermatology, Penn State Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey, UPMC Harrisburg, WellSpan York, Lancaster General, Geisinger Holy Spirit
💡 Central PA has Penn State Hershey academic center. State capital in Harrisburg. Lancaster has Amish population with unique healthcare needs.
Northeast Pennsylvania (Lehigh, Lackawanna, Luzerne Counties)
Lehigh Valley Health, Geisinger, and regional systems.
Medical Groups & Health Systems:
Lehigh Valley Physician Group, Geisinger physicians, St. Luke's University Health Network, Commonwealth Health physicians
Specialty Clinics:
Lehigh Valley Cardiology, LVHN Orthopedics, Lehigh Valley Dermatology, Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute
Hospital Systems:
Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest, Geisinger Wyoming Valley, St. Luke's Bethlehem, Regional Hospital of Scranton
💡 Northeast PA has Lehigh Valley (one of nation's largest practices) and Geisinger expanding presence. Growing Philadelphia exurb market.
What You'll Learn During Your Externship
A front-office healthcare externship exposes you to real administrative workflows. Here are skills you'll develop:
Appointment Scheduling
Booking, rescheduling, and managing patient appointments. Learning scheduling software and optimizing provider calendars.
Patient Check-In/Out
Greeting patients, verifying demographics, collecting copays, updating contact information, and discharge procedures.
EHR/EMR Systems
Navigating electronic health records like Epic, Cerner, or Athena. Entering data, scanning documents, managing patient charts.
Insurance Verification
Verifying patient coverage, understanding copays/deductibles, prior authorizations, and eligibility checks.
Billing Basics
Understanding CPT and ICD codes, charge entry, payment posting, and patient billing inquiries.
Phone & Communication
Professional phone etiquette, message taking, patient callbacks, and coordinating with clinical staff.
Ready to Start Your MAA Career in {{state_name}}?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $850 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about MAA externships in {{state_name}}: